President to bestow Medal of Honor on local veteran

Fought off enemy in Afghanistan despite critical wounds

President Barack Obama will bestow the Medal of Honor on a New Hampshire Army veteran who fought off enemy fighters during one of the bloodiest battles of the war in Afghanistan despite being critically wounded by shrapnel.

Former Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts of Nashua will be awarded the medal during a White House ceremony Monday. It is the nation's highest decoration for battlefield valor.

Pitts, 28, will become the ninth living recipient of the medal for actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The citation says Pitts fought off enemy fighters on July 13, 2008, in Wanat, Afghanistan. Despite losing blood from wounds in both legs and an arm, he continued to fire at about 200 Taliban fighters and guided air strikes that helped repel the attack.